Road-making machine



I 'M. LARSH ROAD MAKING MACHINE Dec. 28 1926.

Filed Jan; 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M11701; firmrsk Dec. 28, 1926. v 1,612,518

J. M. LARSH ROAD MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHHIH lllll Hm n-J YL-J Patentedbec 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN M. LABSE, or mmanaroms,,mn1a

MODE TAYLOR AND ONE-FOURTH 'ro ULYSSES GRANT SMITH,

APOLIS, INDIANA.

. v 1,612,518 PATENT OFFICE.

NA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM BOTH OF' INDIAN- ROAD-'-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed January 4, 1926. .Serial No. 79,245.

frame, four wheels onwhich the frame is I wheel in the furrow which is usually plowed mounted, and a scraper-blade supported between the two pairs of frontand rear wheels. An object of the invention is to provide for shifting both of the front wheels (of afour wheeled vehicle having the rear pair normally spaced so that each rearwheel isuout of alinement with the front wheel onthe same side) laterally of the body-frame in order to place the lower means in advance of the scraping operation, whereby both front and rear wheels on the low side of the machine, will run inthe same furrow in perfect alinement with each other making the scraping operation more uniform and the bottom and side of the ditch more perfect than where the front wheel is run over the irregular ground turned over by the plow.

Another object is to provide means at an operatingplatform at the rear end of the machine for moving the front axle longitudinally. v I

A further object is toprovide means operated from the rear platform for changing the angular relation of the front wheels to the road surface inorder to increase their resistance to skidding and hold the front end of the scraper blade in the bank and from gouging into the bank thereby making an uneven ditch line.

Another ob ect is to provlde means, also manipulated from the rear platform for so leveling the body frame that any top cross sectional line will be substantially horizontal regardless of'the angle of inclination of the road wheel axles in order, thereby, to

add to the comfort of the workman riding on the machine and to avoid contact with obstructions along the roadway'by the overhanging of the body frame as'in other machines.

A still further object is to provide a double suspension for the scraper-blade from a two-part V-shap'ed draw-bar connected with the front of the machine by a single hingeand having rear-end means for laterally adjusting that endofthe draw-bar to correspondingly shift the scraper-blade.

A further object is to, rovide means, operated from the rear plat orm, for independently raising or lowering each member of the two part draw-bar in order, thereby, to raise or lower the corresponding end of the scraper-blade.

Another object is to provide a resilient support from the body-frame for the scraper blade which will assist in and reduce the labor of raising the scraper-blade ofi of the ground, as when it, is desired to turn the road machine or haul it when not scraping the road, and which will assist in holding the scraper-blade against the roadway while the road machine is at work.

I accomplish the above objects and other minor ones which 'will hereinafter appear, in the accompanying description and claims, by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanylng drawings, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1, is a top plan view of a road machine embodying my improvements, with the front seat removed. Fig. 2 isa sideelevation of my invention. Fig. 3, isa vertical range of'adju'stment of the road wheels in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on the l1ne 4-4, of Fig. 3.' Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the machine showing one adjustment of the road wheels and associated mechanism in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a detail in vertical section between the parts of the twopart-rear axle showing an axle stub and its connection with a segmental rack.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the body frame of themachine, 2, 2 are the front road wheels and 3, 3 are the rear road Wheels, and between the front and rear wheels is the scraper-blade 4. Depending from a cross member of the body frame 1 near the front end of the body frame is a segmental rack 5 which may have teeth on its outer periphery and bear upon a pinion 6 as shown in Fig. 2, or the teeth may ex-. tend upwardly and engage with a superimposed pinion as in Fig. 3. The body frame is rockably hinged on a front end middle shaft 200 and a rear middle shaft 201. The

' shafts are journaled in suitable cross members of the frame, and diagonal braces 202 rack 5 is additionally rockably supported in 1y adjusted.

any suitable manner, not shown, such as will be readily supplied by any experienced designer of machinery and is here omitted to avoid unnecessary confusing details.

Depending from a cross member of bodyframe 1, near its rear end, is a hanger 7 a lower member of which has a vertical slot 8 through which passes a pin 9 seated in an arm of a segmental rack 10. The rack 10 is attached by pivot pin 11 to the rear axle of the machine. This rear axle is formed out of two parallel angle bars 12, 12, be tween which the rack 10 is assembled and functions. The rear wheels 3, 3, are mounted on spindle-extensions of respective bars 13, 13, each ofwhich isattached by pivots 14, 14, to the respective ends of the axle bars 12, 12, as shown in Fig. 5. The inner portions of each bar 13, have longitudinal slots 15, 15, which receive-respective pins 16, 16.

carried by an integral bar-member 17 of the rack 10.

By reason of the foregoing construction, when the rack 10 is shifted, as'from the position of full lines in Fig. 5, to that shown by the dotted lines, the rear wheels 3, 3, will be changed to different levels, to conform with the pitch of the road-grade, while the body frame remains level. This is accomplished by a gear wheel 18 that engages with the teeth of rack 10; a gear wheel 19 being operatively fixed to the wheel 18 and driven from a gear wheel 20 mounted on a shaft 21 which is provided with a hand crank 22 by which the shaft 21 is rotated. A gear wheel 23 on the shaft 21 drivingly engages with a pinion 24, on a shaft 25 which extends to the front of the machine and has thereon a bevel pinion 26, drivingly engaging a bevel wheel 27 on a vertical shaft 28, carrying a lower bevel pinion 29 which drives a bevel wheel 30 on a horizontal shaft 32 whereon there is a worm 31 that drives a worm wheel 33 on a ,shaft on which the pinion 6 is mounted. The pinion 6, as pre' viously stated, drivingly engages the front segmental rack 5, and by reason of the foregoing mechanism, the manipulation of crank 22 moves both racks 5 and 10 in a manner to enable-the, operator to maintain the bodyframe horizontal irrespective of the tilted condition of the front and rear axles, and to avoid any'twist or tortional strain on the frame which might result .were not both of its ends correspondingly and simultaneous- I will now describe the mechanism by which the operator, who stands on a platform 34, suspended from the body-frame 1, at the rear end of the machine, shifts the two front wheels 2, 2, laterally of the bodyframe. 7 Y

The front axle 35 comprises two, flat ba'rs turned edge up and separated by a channel bar secured to and between their upper th'lS channel is a rack 36, which is engaged by the teeth of a spur gear wheel 37 mounted on a shaft 38. The flat bars of the axle have longitudinalslots 39 for the passage of the shaft and on one pro ecting end of the shaft a worm wheel 40 is mounted and is driven by a worm 41 on a shaft 42, which carries a bevel wheel 43 that is driven by a pinion 44 on a vertical shaft 45. A bevel wheel 46 on shaft is driven by. a pinion 47 on a shaft 48. The latter terminates above the rear axle and is provided with a hand crank 49. The shaft 48 has universal joints 50, 50, to prevent cramping of the shaft which might otherwise be caused by irregularities in road surface over which the machine often travels.

The wheels 2, 2, are mounted on stubs which are connected by vertical pivots in spindles 52, 52, which are supported. by bracket extensions from respective vertical arms 53, 53, which are attached to the front axle 35 by pivots 54, 54. I

The arms 53, 53, are connected by ball and socket joints 55, 55, at their upper ends, with a horizontal rack bar 56. This rack bar is normally held from longitudinal movement with the axle 35 by a spur gear wheel 57, which engages it. Theshaft for the spur gear is journaled in a h0using58, suspended on rollers 59 from the top of the rack bar 56 and is free to move vertically with the bar 56 but is held by verticalframe bars 59 from movement longitudinally of bar 56,-

with one result, that when the axle 35 is shifted longitudinally, the wheels 2, 2, are

tilted becausethe upper ends of arms 53, 53'

are held from corresponding movement' by the bar 56.

Thus it is apparent that the front wheels 2, 2, and its axle may be moved longitudinally of the axle by manipulation of hand crank 49, and, also, that the wheels will be auton'iaticall tilted.

But as this tilt may be too much or too little to conform'the wheels with the lateral slope of the road-grade I provide a rectify-- ing means which additionally utilizes the rack-bar 56 and gear 57 The shaft 59, carrying the gear wheel 57 has. a worm wheel 60, that is operated by a worm 61 mounted on a shaft 62 journaled in brackets depending from shaft 50 (see Fig. 4) and a bevel The shaft 69 has two universal joints 71, as shown in Fig. 1 to keep the shaft from binding when the machine is on uneven roads. By a proper manipulation of hand crank 70 the rack bar 56 can be moved longitudinally of itself in either direction to change the angular relation of wheels 2, 2, to the road surface and the bar 56 can tilt on the gear wheel as a pivot when the machine is moving over uneven ground, without moving the bar longitudinally.

I will now describe the mechanism for steering the machine by the operator on platform 34. A drawbar 71, see Figs. 2, 7 and 8, is attached to vertical angle-bar standards 72. It is to this draw bar that a sec ond draw bar is connected that carries the scraper-blade, as will be hereinafter described.) Connected with the front end .of draw bar 71 by a link 7 3, is a tongue 74, the front end of which is free to swing about link73 as a hinge, and pivoted under the rear end of steering tongue 74 is a draft tongue 75 the front end of which is attached to a tractor or other draft power (not shown). The weight of tongue 74 is resiliently supported from the body-frame 1 by a spring hitch 76. Slidingly mounted in a suitable horizontal opening in tongue 74 is a. box 81 through which slides a pair of chalknel bars 77, 77, having a rack bar 78 in the channel of the upper one which rack bar is in engagement with a 'spur gear wheel" 79. The shaft 80 of the spur gear wheel is. suitably journaled in the box 81-on the tongue and carries a worm wheel 82 which is driven by a worm 83 on the lower end of a vertical shaft 84. The box 81 has a vertical pin 150 which passes between the tongue and a guide bar 151. The shaft 84, as shown in Fig. 2, is

in two telescoping members and has a universal joint 85, and the shaft terminates with a bevel wheel 86 that is driven by a'bevel' pinion 87 on a shaft 88 that extends back to a crank 89 above platform 34. The shaft 88 has the universal joints 90, 90. When the crank 89 is turned the rack barf? 8, by the action of the intervening mechanism above described, is-correspondingly moved longitudinally through the tongue, and it is obvious that by suitably connecting the ends of the rack bar 78 with the axle stubs on which the front wheels 2. 2, are mounted the latter will be turned in directions to steer the machine. To this end the axle stubs are formed with forwardly projecting arms 91, 91 and these are connected by link bars 100, with the respective ends of the rack bar 78. The link bars preferably comprise vertical joints 101, 101'. The bar 78 and box 81 move longitudinally of the tongue in adjustment required by the swing of the front wheels 2, 2.

To prevent injury to the machine by contact of a front wheel or its hub with a pole or other road obstructiens I provide a release in the form of a breakable pin 1800f wood or the like, which will break and allow the contacting member to give way when the strain exceeds the resistance of the pin, and

the breakage is repaired by inserting -a 7 new pin.

I will now describe the draw bar construction that takes the main working load and strain of the machine; also the attachment to it of the scraper-blade.

The draw bar to which the scraper blade 'is attached is preferably in two parts 101.

the eye bolt 102, and are connected at a.

suitable distance by a pivot block 104. A bar- 105 connects the ends of a semicircular angle bar 106 and this bar 105, is secured to the block 104 by a pivot pm 107. Fixed to the bar 105 concentrically of pin 107 is a wheel 108 having an annular row of side cogs109 which are engaged by a cogged wheel 110, on a shaft 111 that extends back under platform/'34 and terminates with a foot wheel 112 the upper portion of which projects far enough through the platform to allow the wheel and shaft to be rotated by foot movement of the operator. A suitable locking mechanism (not shown) may be used if necessary to prevent accidental rota .tionof the wheel 112.

The ends of the semicircular angle bar 106 turn down and provide theattaching means for a scraper blade 147 of usual construction,

the angular adjustment of which across the machine is' secured by the above described mechanism controlled by the foot wheel 112, and a required adjustment so secured is retained by passing a pin 113 through one of a series of holes 114 in the vertical flange of the angle bar 106. The pin 113 is mounted in brackets 115 depending from the draw bars 101, 101. It is pressed into engagement with the holes in the flange by a spring-116 and is withdrawn by a foot lever- 168 pivoted in the platform 34 and connected with the pin by a cable 117.

Pivoted to the rear ends of both draw bar members 101, 101, is a yoke 118, having a rearwardly extending stem upon which a tube 119 is fastened. Telescoping into the tube from its rear end is a second tube the rear end of which is plvoted to cars integral with a plate 120, which has sliding adjustment on the head of a T bar 121 which is bolted to the horizontal flange of the front link member 125.

shown in Fig. 9. The tube adjacent to plate 120, has a universal joint as shown in Fig.2 or a ball and socket joint as shown in Fig. 9, to afford the necessary adjustments and freedom of movement of parts. The plate 120 is positioned and held by a chain 122 which has its two ends fastened to cars on plate 120 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and which passes in a taut condition around the bar 121. It is kept taut by taking up slack due to wear by removing bolt 123 and screwing the threaded bolt 124 into the female This avoids twisting the chain, which is further kept in condition by passing around pulleys 126, 126, at the ends of bar 121.

\Vhile I have here shown the best embodiment of my invention now known to me it is obviously capable of many modifications in detail and I therefore desire to include all changes that come within the spirit of the inventions as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination, with a road making machine, of' a rear pair of spaced apart machine supporting road wheels, a pair of front machine-supporting road wheels spaced a less distance apart, and means for shifting the front Wheels to a tracking position in front of a rear wheel without changing the position of the front end of the machine body or the direction of the machine in its further travel.

2. The combination, with a road-making front axle lengthwise of itself to bring one of its wheels into tracking alinement with one of the rear wheels and means for holding the front axle constantly at right angles with the longitudinal axis of machine.

3. The combination, with a road-makin machine, of a pair of spread-apart road wheels supporting the front end of the machine body said wheels being pivoted to tilt to positions oblique to theirroad contacting surface, and 'meansfor shifting said wheels laterally of the machine body without changing the direction of the longitudinal center line of the machine body.

4. The combination, witlr a road-making machine, of a pair of spread-apart road wheels supporting the front endof the machine body, said wheels being pivoted to tilt to positions oblique to their road contacting surface, and means for shifting said wheels laterally of the machine body without changing the direction of the longitudinal center line of the machine body and for simultaneously tilting the wheels on their pivots, and

' means for varying the tilt of the wheels spaced apart machine without further shifting of the wheels laterally of the machine body.

-5. The combination, with a road-making machine, of a pair of spread-apart road wheels supporting an end of the machine body, means for shifting the wheels laterally of the machine body and means for varying the inclination of the plane of the wheels to the surface of the roadway.

6. In a road making machine, an axle, a pair of ground wheels pivotally connected with the axle so the angular relation of the plane of the wheels to the road surface may be varied, arms controlling said angular relalion of the wheels. a bar connecting the arms,

means for controlling the longitudinal move-. ment of the bar, and means for moving the axle longitudinally to change the tracking of the wheels and to change their angular relation to the road surface by engagement of the rack-bar with the gear-wheel.

'7. The cdmbination, in a road making machine having a machine body, of a front axle which is stationary relative to the machine body except as to a limitedmotion around a horizontal axis, a pair of road wheels supporting the axle. between them, a pulling tongue attached at its rear end to the road machine at or near the longitudinal center line of the machine body, and means for shifting the wheels laterally of the machine body without changing thedirection of the longitudinal center line of the machine body.

8. The combination, in a road making machine, of a machine body, a rear pair of supporting road wheels, a front axle which is stationary relative to the machine body except as to a limited motion around a horizontal axis, a pair of front road wheels supporting the front axle between them and spaced a less distance apart than the distance between the rear pair of road wheels, a pulling tongue attached at its rear end to the road machine at or near the longitudinal center line of the machine-body, and means for shifting the front wheels to a tracking position in front of a rear wheel without changin the lateral position of the attachment of the pulling tongue to the machine body.

9. The combination, with a road-making machine having a body portion, of a rear pair of spread-apart machine supporting road wheels. a front axle supporting the front end of the machine having a limited motion around a horizontal axis without motion around a vertical axis a pair of road wheels supporting the axle, said front wheels being a less distance apart than the rear wheels, and means for moving the front axle lengthwise of itself to bring one of its wheels into tracking alinement with one of the rear wheels. Y

10. The combination, with a road-makingv pair of spread-apart machine supporting road wheels, a front axle supporting the' front end of the machine having a limited motion around a horizontal axis without motion around a vertical axis; a pair of for moving the front axle lengthwise 0f it- I self to bring one of its wheels into tracking alinement with one of the rear wheels without changing the lateral position of the point of attachment of the rear end of the pulling tongue to the longitudinal center line of the body of said machine.

11. The combination, with a road-making machine, having a body portion, of a pair of spread-apart road wheels supporting the front end of the machine body, said wheels being pivoted to tilt to positions oblique to I their road contacting surface; and a single control means for shifting said wheels laterally of the machine body without changing the line of direction of the longitudinal center line of the machine body, and for tilting the wheels on their pivots.

12. The combination, with a road-making machine having a. body portion, of a front axle having limited motion around a horizontal axis without any movement around a vertical axis; a pair of road wheels supporting the axle between them and pivoted to tilt to positions oblique to the axle; a pulling tongue; a single control means for shifting said wheels laterally of the machine body without changing the line of direction of the longitudinal center line of the machine body and for tilting the wheels on their pivots and without changing the lateral position of the point of attachment 'of the pulling tongue to the longitudinal center line of said machine body. I

13. The combination, with a road-making machine of a machine body; a pair of spread-apart road wheels supporting the front end of the machine body, said-wheels being pivoted to tilt to positions oblique to their road contacting surface; a single control means for shifting said wheels laterally of the machine body without changing the line of direction of the longitudinal center line of the machine body and for tilting the wheels on their pivots; and means for varying the tilt of the wheels without further shifting of thewheels laterally of the machine body.

- 14. The combination, with a'road-making machine of a machine body, a pair of spread-apart road wheels supporting the front end of the machine body, said wheels being pivoted to tilt to positions oblique to theirroad contacting surface; a single control means for shifting said Wheels laterally of the machine body without changing the lineof direction of the longitudinal-center line of the machine body and for simultaneously tilting the wheels on thcir'pivots; and

means for varying the tilt of the wheelswithout further shifting of the wheels laterally ofthe machine body.

15. The combination, with a road-making machine having a body portion, of a front axle having limited motion around a horizontal axis without any movement around a vertical axis; a pair of road wheels supporting the axle between them and pivoted to tilt to positions oblique to the axle; a pulling tongue; a single control means for shifting said wheels laterally of the machinebody without changing the line of direction of the longitudinal center line of the machine body and for tilting the wheels on their pivots and without changin the lateral position of the point of.attachment of the pulling tongue to the longitudinal center line of said machine-body and means for varying the tilt of the wheels without further shifting of the wheels laterally of the machine body.

16. Thecombination, with a road making machine having a machine body, of a front axle having'only motion around a horizontal axis relative to the machine body; a pair of road wheels supporting the axle'between them; a pulling tongue; means for shifting the wheels laterally of the machine body;

and means for'varying the inclination of the" JOHN M. LARSH. 

